Adjustable table top



Oct. 12, 1954 G. M. HARRY ADJUSTABLE TABLE TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJuly 16, 1952 INVENTOR. I Mh@ Ceoffr .el LA7 G. M. HARRY 2,691,559

ADJUSTABLE TABLE TOP oct. 12, 1954 Filed July 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

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Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This inventionrelates to improvements in tables and more particularly to a noveladjustable table capable -of a wide Variety of uses.

Adjustable tables in which the table member or Ileaf can be arranged atvarying horizontal and angular positions are quite convenient and find awide variety of different uses, e. g. as a reading desk, a lectern, anoccasional table, a bedside table, a music etc. However, tables of thisgeneral character as heretofore known have not been entirelysatisfactory in that they have4 often had ordy limited adjustability,have not always been siiiciently stable when the leaf is in horizontalposition, and have not been ycapable of being compactly folded with theleaf in vertical position for completely concealing the adjustingmechanism from normal view. Consequently, they have enjoyed little or nocommercial acceptance.

Accordingly, a primary object of my invention is toprovide a noveladjustable table having substantial advantages over the tables of thisgeneral type heretofore proposed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novelpedestal-supported table having a table leaf capable of being adjustedto any desired position between horizontal and vertical and' which ismarkedly stable in all or" its adjusted positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel adjustable tablehaving a wide degree of angular adjustability and which is also capableof being disposed at varying elevations.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel tableconstruction of the adjustable leaf type in which the leaf can bereadily folded into compact vertical position for storage and in whichposition the leaf effectively conceals the adjusting mechanism fromnormal View.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable tablehaving a novel locking mechanism for releasably securing the table leafin any desired adjusted position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the subsequent detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a table constituting one specicembodiment of my invention and showing the table leaf in horizontalposition;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a, fragmentary side elevational View similar to Fig. 1 butshowing the device in compact folded relation for storage;

12 Claims. (C1. 311-38) Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational viewshowing the table leaf in one vof its adjusted anguiar positions;`

Fig. 5 is' a fragmentary cross-sectional view as taken along Vthe line5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig.. 6 is a 'fragmentary elevational viewsimi-lar to Fig. 4 but showinga different and higher ad'- justed position'of the device;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary 'front yelevational View on an enlarged scaleof the upper portion of the device and showing vthe locking mechanism innormal locked position.;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the locking mechanism inreleased position; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view talren substantially along ythe line 99. of Fig.. 7.

Referring to the drawings, the table comprises a foot or base portion IIhaving a, pair of oppositely extendingv side. legs l2 (Fig. 2) and aforwardly extend-ing leg I3- which is of greater length than the sidelegs =I2. Extending upwardly from the base I I` is an upright post orpedestal I4 which may be suitably formed to provide any desireddecorative appearance. A. triangular brace f6 is provided between thepost I4 and the base ll'. The upper endof the post IIl is 'formed with agenerally rectangular blocky portion IT having fiat sides, and a knobI'S having a iiatten'edupper end is disposed above the block Il'.

An elongated pivoted support, indicated generally` at I9, extendsforwardly from the upper end of the' pedestal I4 for mounting the tablemember or leaf of the device. In this instance the. support 'I9comprises a. pair of paralleli arms 2'I each having an outwardlyextending straight portion 22' and an offset' or curved end portion 2.3.The short curve-d ends 23' of the arms 2il lare pivotally secured onopposite fiat sides of the block I by means of a pivot pin 2`4 extendingthroughthe arms and the block adjacent the top of the pedestal I4.

An adjustable fl-at table member or leaf '2"6- is pivotally attached tothe outer end ofl the support I'9- by means of an attaching portion 2lsecured to the underside of the leaf y26 Vand fitted between the outer'extremities of the arms 2l. A pivot pin 2t- (Fi'g. 5') passes throughthe arms 2"I and' the attachineportion 2'1", andl a clamp nut 29 is'threaded to one end of the pin 28' for retaining the leaf member 26' inlixed relation to the support I9 when desired. A ledge or support -3I`is secured' adjacent the outermost edge of thek table leaf 26 forsupporting a book or the like thereon when in tilted position.

will be readily apparent from the structural relationship thus fardescribed, the support I9 may be angularly positioned relative to thepost I4 and suitable locking means, hereinafter described in detail, isprovided for retaining the support I9 in any desired adjusted position.Similarly, the leaf 26 is pivotally adjustable relative to the supportI9 in order to provide a wide range of adjustability in the angularposition of the table leaf 26 for varying elevations thereof asdetermined by the position of the pivoted support I9. For rigidlyretaining the table leaf 26 in desired angular position relative to thesupport I9, I provide a toothed rack 32 which is secured to theunderside of the table leaf 26 and a swingable retainer or pawl 33 whichis pivotally mounted between the arms 2| by means of a suitable pin 34.As will be evident from Figs. 41 to 6, the pawl 33 may be engaged withany desired portion of the rack 32 in order to provide a firm supportfor the leaf member 26. Another pin 36 is provided between the arms 2lrearwardly of the pin 34 for supporting the free end of the pawl 33 whenthe latter is not in use. For example, in Fig. 1 with the support I9 inhorizontal position, it will be seen that the table leaf 26 is firmlysupported in horizontal position by engagement with the upper edges ofthe arms 2l and also by flatwise engagement adjacent its free edge withthe flattened knob I8. In this position of the device the rack and pawlmechanism is inactive and the pawl 33 is supported adjacent its free endby the pin 36 and is thus completely retracted within the connes of thearms 2 I.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 9 in particular, the preferred form oflocking mechanism for releasably retaining the pivoted support I9 in anydesired position will now be described. The locking mechanism is mountedon a generally PU- shaped bracket or support, indicated at 31, having alat base portion 38 and a pair of oppositely disposed flanges or sideportions 39. The bracket 31 is secured to the upright post I4 by meansof a plurality of screws extending through the base portion 38 into therectangular block I1, the base of the bracket being received in asuitable recess 42 (Fig. 9) which is provided in the front face of theblock portion I1. The bracket sides 39 are each provided with a pair ofinwardly extending upper and lower apertured bosses 43 and 44respectively. The bosses 43 are in axial alignment for slidablysupporting a shiftable locking pin 46, and the bosses 44 are likewisearranged to receive a companion locking pin 41.

The inner curved or oiset end portion 23 of each of the arms 2l isprovided with a circular recess 48 (Fig. 7), and a circular plate 49 isfastened in the recess by means of a plurality of screws I (Fig. 9), therecess 48 being of the same depth as the thickness of the plate 49 sothat the inner surface of the plate 49 is flush with the inside surfaceof the arm 2I. In addition, the oset portion 23 of each arm 2I has acircular end contour so that the circular plates 49 are disposedconcentrically and in alignment with the end portions 23 of the arms 2I.Each of the plates 49 is provided with a plurality of circumferentiallyarranged apertures 52 in alignment with a plurality of complementarybores 53 in the end portions 23` of the arms 2 I, the recesses 52-53thus defined being arranged at the same radial distance from the pivot24 as the pins 46 and 41. Each of the plates 49 is also provided with acentral aperture 54 through which theopposite ends of the pivot pin 24extend into the arms 2 I.

The slidable pins 46 and 41 haveA a predetermined length such that theycan be selectively positioned to project from the bracket sides 39 intothe aligned openings 52 and 53 for retaining the arms 2| in any desiredangular position relative to the upright post I4, or the pins 46 and 41can be retracted (Fig. 8) so that they are within the confines of thebracket 31 in order to permit pivotal adjustment of the arms 2|. Formanipulating the pins 46 and 41, I provide a pair of parallel pivotplates or levers 56 which are supported for rocking movement abo-ut acentral pivot or stud 51 which is in turn rigidly secured in a boss orsocket 58 (Fig. 9) extending forwardly from the base portion 38 of thebracket. The upper'and lower end portions of the parallel plates 55 arethus disposed on opposite sides of the locking pins 45 and 41 and areoperatively secured to the latter by means of a pair of transversethrust pins 59 which extend through the locking pins and have theiropposite ends received in suitably elongated slots 6I in the plates 56.A helical spring 62 surrounds the pin 41 and is interposed intermediatethe lower portion of the plates 56 and the lefthand boss 44, as viewedin Figs. '1 and 8, for normally urging the pivot plates 56 in acounterclockwise direction. As will be seen in Fig. 7, the spring 62thus causes the lower pin 41 to project outwardly to the right into aselected socket 52-53 in the right-hand arm 2 I, and in similar fashionthe pin 46 is caused to extend into a corresponding socket in theleft-hand arm 2l thereby rigidly retaining the entire pivot support I9in desired angular position relative to the post I4. A stop collar 63 isadjustably secured on the pin 46 for coaction with the left-hand boss 43in order to limit the extent to which the locking pins 46 and 41 projectinto the arms 2 I.

For releasing the locking mechanism, I provide a depending operatinghandle 64 which is pivotally attached at its upper end to a pin 65 eX-tending through the plates 56 in eccentric relation to the central pivot51 of the plates 56. As will be evident from Fig. 8, when the handle 64is pulled downwardly, the plates 56 are rocked in a clockwise directionthereby retracting both of the locking pins 46 and 41 within theconfines of the bracket 31 so that the arms 2l are thereby renderedrotatably adjustable on the post I4. During the releasing action, thespring 62 is of course compressed and upon releasing the handle 64 thespring 62 automatically causes the shiftable pins 46 and `41 to returnto locking position. It will be understood that the elongated slots 6Iin the pivot plates 56 provide the necessary clearance to accommodatethe slight relative shifting of the thrust pins 59 during rotation ofthe plates 56. By providing the recesses 52-53 in a continuous circulararrangement, it will be seen that my device permits of a Wide variationin angular relation between the arms 2I and the post I4.

By reason of the double pivoted arrangement through which the support I9can be adjusted relative to the post I4 and the table leaf 26 can beadjusted relative to the support I9, the device is capable of a widevariety of uses. For example, in Fig. 4, the table leaf 26 is arrangedat an incline and the arms 2l are adjusted in downwardly extendingangular position so that this arrangement is well suited for use as areading rack or desk while seated in a chair. In Fig. 6, the table leaf26 is likewise at an incline but the arms 2I are adjusted to an upwardlyextending angular position so that the table leaf 26 is at a higherelevation. This arrangement would aca ,1,559

be suitable for use asa music rack orfotln-ir like,

purposes. In Fig. `1, the table .leaf .26 is shownv in horizontalv.position so. that device maybe used for general living room purposesor as a beds-ide table. It will be notedthat in the Fig. 1 position, thetable leaf .2E is firmly supported by `reasonof the engagement of theleaf 28 with the .supper edges of the arms 2I and also by Areason of thefact that the rear edge of the table leaf $26 rests on ythe at knob I8at the top ofthe upright post I4. In addition, in any ofthe variouspositions of the table it will be seen that Ythe device .is quiteystable even though .the table leaf 2G extends outwardly to` aconsiderable distance beyond the axis lof the post 1:4. The highdegreeof stability is accounted for bythe fact that vthe center leg t3of .the base ll is made somewhat longer than the side Alegs I2 so thatthe center of gravity of the device is always within the confines ofvthe legs I.2 and I3.

Another advantage of the device resides in the fact that it can becompactly folded for storage purposes, as best seen in Fig. 3. lThecurved or oiset conformation of the arms 2l is very important in thisrespect since it permits the arms 2l to be disposed in a verticalposition closely adjacent and parallel to the post I4. In addition, thetable leaf 26 can be folded into parallel position against the arms 2I.When the article is thus arranged for storage, the nut 29 may betightened as required in `order-to hold the leaf 2S in the desiredvertical position. It will also `loe seen from Fig. 3 that when thusfolded the vertical height of the leaf 26- is such that when the deviceis viewed from the front in the usual manner, all of the adjustingmechanism is completely concealed from normal view thereby providing anattractive article of furniture even when .the table is not being used.In addition, the Ycurved or offset shape of the arms 2l oontributessubstantially to the range of available height or elevation to which theleaf 25 can be adjusted.

Although the invention hasbeen described in connection with a specificstructural embodiment thereof it will be understood that variousmodifications and equivalent structures may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable table comprising an upright post, a pair of parallelarms pivotally secured at opposite sides of the post, a table leafpivotally mounted adjacent one edge thereof at the outer ends of saidarms, releasable locking means coacting between said post and said armsfor retaining the latter in desired angular position relative to saidpost, a pawl swingably supported between said arms, and rack meanssecured to said table leaf for cooperation with said pawl whereby toretain the table leaf in desired angular position relative to said arms.

2. An adjustable table comprising an upright post, a pair of parallelarms pivotally secured at opposite sides of the post, a table leafpivotally mounted adjacent one edge thereof at the outer ends of saidarms, releasable locking means coacting between said post and said armsfor retaining the latter in desired angular position relative to saidpost, and an elongated retainer pivotally carried between said arms andadapted to be swung outwardly from said arms into retaining engagementwith said table leaf for holding the latter in desired angular positionrelative to the arms, said retainer being retractable 6 into. inactiveposition substantiallyywithin the confines of said arms when said table4leaf is in substantially parallel relation .to said arms.

3. An adjustable table comprising an .upright post, a pair of parallel.arm .pivotally .secured at opposite sides of the post., a table leafpivotally mounted adjacent one edge thereof at the outer ends of saidarms, and releasable looking ,means mounted on said post intermediatesaid arms and. adapted to coact with the arms for retain-v ing thelatter in predetermined angular position relative to said post.

4. An adjustable table comprising an uprightA post, a pair of parallelarms each pivotally secured adjacent one end thereof at opposite sidesof the post, a table leaf pivotally attached adjacent one edge thereofto the outer end portions of said arms, releasable locking means.mounted on said post intermediate said arms and coacting with said oneend of each of said arms for retaining the latter in .desired angularposition relative tov said post, and elongated retainer means swingablymounted between said arms intermediate the ends of the latter, saidretainer; means being swingable outwardly from said arms for coactionwith said table leaf for holding the table leaf in desired angularposition relative to the arms and said retainer means.v beingretractable into inactive position substantially within the connes ofsaid arms when said table leaf is in substantially parallel rela-v tionto said arms.

5. An adjustable table comprising a base with, an upright post thereon,a pair of parallel elongated .arms each having an offset attachingportion at one end thereof, pivot means securing the attaching portionsof said arms at opposite sides of said post whereby the pivot for saidarms is in offset relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of thearms, a table leafrpivotallysecured adjacent one edge thereof to theouter ends of said arms, and releasable locking meanscoactingbetweensaid post and said armsv for retaining the latter in desired angularposition relative to said post, the offset pivotal connection of Saidarms to said post permitting the arms to be readily disposed independing position parallelI to said post and closely adjacent theretofor compact folded arrangement of the device and also increasing therange of height adjustability of the leaf when the latter is in elevatedposition.

6. The device of claim 5 further characterized in that said table leafis adapted to be pivoted into parallel relation to said arms whereby theentire device can be folded compactly with the table leaf and arms inupright parallel side-byside relation with said post.

7. An adjustable table comprising a base with an upright post thereon, apair of parallel elongated arms each having an outwardly curved endportion disposed at opposite sides of said post, pivot means extendingthrough said post and the curved end portions of said arms whereby saidarms are mounted on a pivot axis offset from the longitudinal axis ofthe arms, a table leaf pivotally attached adjacent one edge thereof tothe outer end portions of said arms, and releasable locking meanscarried on said post intermediate said arms and coacting with the curvedend portions of the arms for retaining the latter in desired angularposition relative to said post.

8. An adjustable table comprising a base having an upright post thereon,elongated arm means pivotally attached at one end thereof to the postadjacent the top of the latter, a table leaf pivotally attached adjacentone edge thereof to the opposite end of said arm means, and releasablelocking means for retaining said arm means in desired angular positionrelative` to said post, said table leaf being adapted to be disposed insupporting contact with said arm means when the arm means and the tableleaf are in horizontal position and the top of said post beingengageable in supporting relation with the table leaf adjacent theopposite free edge thereof.

9. An adjustable table comprising a base including an upright post, apair of elongated parallel arms pivotally secured to the post atopposite sides thereof, a table leaf pivotally mounted adjacent one edgethereof at the outer ends of said arms, and releasable locking meansadapted to retain said arms in desired angular position relative to saidpost, said locking means comprising retractable pin means mounted onsaid post and adapted to coact with said arms.

10. An adjustable table comprising a base including an upright post, apair of elongated parallel arms pivotally secured to the post atopposite sides thereof, a table leaf pivotally mounted adjacent one edgethereof at the outer ends of said arms, and releasable locking meansadapted to retain said arms in desired angular position re1- ative tosaid post, said locking means comprising a plurality of pins shiftablymounted on said post intermediate said arms, said arms being providedwith a plurality of openings for receiving the ends of the pins inlocking relation, spring means normally urging said pins into lockingposition in said openings, and manually operable means for retractingsaid pins from said openings to permit pivotal adjustment of said armsrelative to the post.

11. An adjustable table comprising a base including an upright post, apair of elongated parallel arms pivotally secured to the post atopposite sides thereof, a table leaf pivotally mounted adjacent one edgethereof at the outer ends of said arms, and releasable locking meansadapted to retain said arms in desired angular position relative to saidpost, said locking means comprising a bracket rigidly afxed to said postintermediate said arms, a pair of locking pins slidably mounted on saidbracket and disposed transversely between said arms, spring-pressedlever means pivotally mounted between said locking pins and operative-1y connected to the latter for urging the pins in opposite directionswhereby the outer end portions of the pins are normally extended beyondsaid bracket, said arms each being provided with a plurality of openingsfor receiving the projecting end portions of one of said pins in lockingrelation therewith, and manually operable means connected to said levermeans for retracting said pins whereby to permit angular adjustment ofthe arms relative to said post.

12. An adjustable table compri-sing a b-ase including an upright post, apair of elongated parallel arms each having an offset portion at one endand disposed on opposite sides of said post, a pivot extending throughsaid post and the offset portions of said arms for svvingably securingthe arms to the post, a table leaf pivotally mounted adjacent one edgethereof at the outer ends of said arms, the offset portions of said armsbeing provided with a plurality of openings arranged circumferentiallyon a predetermined radius with respect to said pivot, and releasablelocking means adapted to retain said arms in desired angular positionrelative to said post, said locking means including a pair of transverseslidable pins operatively supported on said post intermediate said armsat the same radial distance from said pivot as said openings wherebysaid pins are adapted to extend outwardly from the post into selectedopenings in said arms for retaining the latter in said desired angularposition.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 363,339 Kidder et al. May 17, 1887 '706,228 Fleming Aug. 5,1902 1,404,448 Kroupa Jan. 24, 1922 1,529,022 Fraser Mar. 10, 19251,925,087 Andren Sept. 5, 1933 1,956,546 Froelich Apr. 24, 19342,471,646 Norwood May 31, 1949 2,628,142 Dubach Feb. 10, 1953

